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“Okay BJ, are you ready for a day full out day of shopping. Nick gave me one of his cards and told me to have fun. But there isn’t anything I really need besides a few house items.” I explained as we drove towards the Tampa mall.
“What kind of house things?” BJ wondered.
“Just a few simple decorations to show a woman lives in Nick’s house. Although, I might not change it. I really like it the way it is.”
“Really?”
“Yeah,” I smiled. “Here we are!”
“Where to first?”
“You pick. We have as long as we need, that is till Nick calls and complains too much.” BJ laughed at that comment and the face I made.
Through the day, BJ and I joked around. I couldn’t believe how awesome she was. Her friendship was going to be fabulous. It made it even better since she was going to be my sister. Later as we were sitting around a table eating ice cream in the food court, I decided to bring up a dangerous topic.
“BJ,” I nervously licked my cone.
“Yeah,” She replied.
“Why did you hate me so much to begin with? What did I do?”
She stopped licking her ice cream to collect her thoughts. I could tell she had a lot to say. I didn’t care. I just needed to know.
“Well, I didn’t hate you from the beginning actually.” I blinked surprised. “I actually couldn’t wait to meet you. Nick always talked about how great you were. How you would be like a sister and that we’d have so much fun together and so on. So, that day you came out to California I was pumped. But when you got there, you clung to Nick like you would never let him go. Even near his family! Kind of like a fan would be. Later my mom explained your home setting and I realized that you were scared. Nick was all that you’ve had that was firm to cling to. I mean…your bet friend had just died less then a year ago.”
The mention of Laura made my heart ache. Quickly I blinked back the threatening tears. “When did you learn all this?”
“Not till after you left. That’s why things never changed. I also learned to hate you, because you took my brother. You’re a barely older then me, so it’s like you became me in the family. With…Nick Aaron and soon everyone else. Mom finally sat down and talked to me about everything. She knew I was the reason you left so early. I’m sorry.” She whispered.
“Don’t do into that stuff. As soon as you made a move to be my friend, I forgot everything. But now I understand everything better. Thanks.” I smiled. I looked down and noticed that we had both finished our ice creams. “Well, lets go finish out shopping before you’re whining brother calls.”
She laughed as the tension that had barely been there melted away. Suddenly as if on cue, my phone rang. BJ laughed all the more knowing it was Nick.
“Nick come on! Concentrate!” Fatima yelled as she stopped the music once again. The room echoed with groans from everyone present.
“I’m trying guys! I really am! I just feel so guilty leaving all the wedding plans with Anne and my mom! I should be helping them!” Nick quickly explained.
Brian laughed. He had never seen Nick wanting to join in on work. He hated most of the tour detail planning, but now he wanted to plan a wedding. It’s amazing how a girl can change a girl.
“What’s so funny, B?” Nick questioned.
“Nothing.” Brian smiled sobering up.
“Whatever!” Nick grumbled turning to get back into his starting position. Brian smiled at Nick’s back.
“What about this one?” Mrs. Carter asked holding out the skirt to yet another wedding dress.
I eyed it slowly, checking out every detail. “I’m not sure. I think I’ve seen one too many wedding dresses for a day. They’re all running together.”
“I know how that goes. Do you want to come out for an early start tomorrow?”
“Sure thing.” I agreed.
It was two weeks later and I had flown out to California to start planning the wedding. We had decided the date would be June 7th. The day before they started back up the summer tour. There would be no honey moon for us for a long time.
We drove back to the Carter’s household, talking the whole time. It made it so easy to stay out there now since me and BJ got along. I still have no clue what changed her mind, but something did. I’m very great full to whatever did the job. BJ really did feel like a sister now.
“What’s for dinner? Cause it sure does smell good in here!” I called walking straight into the kitchen when we got home.
“Macaroni and cheese, green beans and bread.” Mr. Carter smiled proudly.
“Sounds great.” I encouraged kissing him on the cheek. I had really grown to treat the Carter’s like my own parents, since mine were never around anymore.
“Thanks hon.”
“Angel! Where are you?” I shouted running into the living room.
“Isn’t it amazing how perfectly she fits in this family, even when Nick’s not here?” Mrs. Carter remarked wrapping her arms around her husband’s waist.
“I know. She is one awesome girl. I can’t believe Nick found her and then almost let her go.”
“Goodness! When they weren’t together it was torture for Nick and whoever was around him!”
“Yupe!” Mr. Carter agreed. “But, I think they needed it.”
“Why?” Mrs. Carter wondered.
“It brought them closer together. They learned what they really meant to each other when they couldn’t have each other.”
“I get what you’re saying. I actually agree.”
“I knew you would.” Mr. Carter smiled kissing his wife.
“Ya know, that girl…..wow! Sorry, I was just leaving.” I stated turning quickly around. But I couldn’t help as a smile spread across my face. Soon that would be me and Nick, in out kitchen, in our house.
“Anne! Are you okay? What’s wrong?” Mrs. Carter yelled running into Nick’s room. That’s where I decided to sleep.
“Awww!” I groaned clutching my stomach.
“What do you want me to do?”
“I don’t know! This has never happened before.”
By now the whole family except Nick were crowded around me.
“What’s wrong with Anne?” Aaron asked kneeling down to hold my hand. He always did know how to be Nick when his big brother couldn’t be around.
“We don’t know!” Mrs. Carter sighed.
“Don’t just stand here! We gotta do something.” BJ cried running over to the phone.
“What are you gonna do?” Leslie asked.
“Call 911!”
“Hey, Nick! Your mom is on the phone. She says it’s important.” Brian sighed holding out Nick’s cell phone.
“Thanks, bro. Hello?”
“Nick honey. You won’t believe this.”
“What is it Mom?” Nick questioned not liking the worried tone he heard in his mother’s voice. “Well, come on! Out with it!” Nick prompted impatiently.
His mother quietly told him. Nick’s mind raced at the speed of light, yet everything seemed to go in slow motion. Unknowingly, he had dropped his cell phone from the sudden news. The noise startled Brian. He did a double take at the look on Nick’s face.
“What is it?” Brian inquired, his curiosity now aroused.
“Anne is in the hospital.”
“What!?”